Apartment Christmas Decorating Ideas

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Merry Christmas! It’s Holiday Home Tour time. I’m so excited today to give you a peek into my new space and share some of the holiday magic I’ve whipped up.

Michael Wurm Jr. - Inspired by Charm

This year I’m participating in Jennifer Rizzo’s Holiday Housewalk. I believe she has been hosting this for seven years. This is my second year on the tour, and I am thrilled to be back.

In case you’re not familiar with the Holiday Housewalk, here’s the nutshell version: During a single week, 30+ bloggers share their homes decorated for Christmas. This year’s tour started on Monday with Jennifer’s home and has been going on all week with visits to the homes of many other bloggers. The housewalk ends today with the homes of even more bloggers, including me.

If you’ve come here from Allison’s home at The Golden Sycamore (the stop on the tour before mine), welcome! I am happy to have you here! After you’re finished scrolling through my space, be sure to click on the next blogger at the bottom of this post to continue on the tour.

Holiday Office Home Decor Ideas

Apartment Christmas Decorations:

If you follow Inspired by Charm, you’ll know that I’m decorating a new space this year. Back in June, life gave me a nudge to move from my big house in a small town to a smaller apartment in a big city. I loved decorating that house for the holidays, so this year has definitely been a transition (and challenge) for me. This also will probably be the first and last time I decorate this particular space for Christmas, and last year was the final time for me to decorate that large old house. (More bittersweet details on that loaded statement coming soon.) While I’m still tweaking my decor, there’s definitely holiday magic around these parts. Let me show you.

Since I already shared a few of the festive touches in my office (my Rustic Modern Christmas Tree), let’s start there.

Home Office Holiday Decorations

About a month ago I painted a navy accent wall in this room. That has helped to inspire the rest of the decor in the office, including the tree. From there, my Rustic Modern Christmas Tree seemed to invite the addition of red and burgundy touches for a holiday feel. You can check out that tree in all its glory here.

Modern Home Office Holiday Decorations

Behind my desk, I hung these bulletin boards to display work projects and decor. A letterboard spells out some of my favorite holiday movie characters.

Modern Home Office Holiday Decorations

Rustic Modern Christmas Tree

Mixing rustic and modern for Christmas decorating - Rustic Modern Christmas Tree

Ornaments for a Rustic Modern Christmas Tree

Christmas Decorating Rustic Modern Christmas Tree

On the opposite side of the room (which I don’t believe I’ve ever shared on the blog), I created a cozy nook for taking a break from work. I’ve furnished it with a love seat, leather chair, ottoman coffee table (which was repurposed from my previous home), and a big shelf for books and whatever else finds its way there.

Modern Home Office Holiday Decorations

Modern Home Office Holiday Decorations

Sidenote: I’ll do my best to link things in this post. I also recommend visiting SHOP IBC where you can get more links to some of my apartment furnishings and decor.

Modern Home Office Holiday Decorations

It’s been especially nice to have this extra seating area in my apartment. Blankets, pillows, and comfy furniture make it an ideal spot to read or relax for a bit. I just picked up a new bluetooth-enabled record player, so lately listening to holiday tunes on vinyl has added to the joy.

Modern Home Office Holiday Decorations

Not surprisingly, my kitties are digging this space. I was even able to incorporate my colorful DIY Christmas trees on the shelf you see above them. Remember those trees? You can learn how to make them here.

Modern Home Office Christmas Decorations

I also wanted to point out that fab red canvas. It’s from Lindsay Letters, whose artwork I love. Her pieces can always be found in my spaces.

More Apartment Christmas Decorations:

Modern Christmas Living Room Decorating Ideas

Transitioning to the living room: For my Christmas decor, I played off the green and blue color scheme I already had in place. I was pleased with how it worked out.

In addition to the Christmas tree (We’ll get to that in a second.), among my favorite new holiday decor items are these stained glass trees. I bought them back in October from CB2 when they first showed up on the site. I knew they’d be perfect in here.

Modern Christmas Living Room Decorating Ideas

Modern Christmas Living Room Decorating Ideas

And speaking of trees – Yes, I have another big Christmas tree in this space. It’s the tree that graced the cover of BHG’s Christmas Ideas Magazine, but it’s dressed in a whole new way.

Modern Christmas Living Room Decorating Ideas

I’m calling it my “Not-Coco-Chanel-Tree.” Why? Well, the famous designer Coco Chanel said something to the effect: “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory.” With this tree, however, I took the opposite approach. It was as if the tree kept saying to me, “Heck no! I’m going to be my fabulous, over-the-top self. Add some more. Yes, more. Keep adding. One more thing. One more thing.” Crazy, right?

Modern Christmas Living Room Decorating Ideas

Modern Christmas Living Room Decorating Ideas

As a result, this tree is loaded with ornaments. I’m guessing there are 200+. It might be a bit difficult to see, but a ribbon is also tucked in there. (Speaking of ribbon, you can get my “How to Put Ribbon on a Christmas Tree” tutorial here.) And I finished this maximalist look off with a felt ball garland . . . just because. (The tree kept asking for more.)

Modern Christmas Living Room Decorating Ideas
Modern Christmas Living Room Decorating Ideas

I’m hoping to capture the details of this tree in additional photos that I’ll share soon in another post. Stay tuned!

On the opposite wall, I decided to have fun with this ceramic deer head I had in my B&B gift shop years ago. With branch antlers, ornaments, and a gold wreath, he’s my little touch of Christmas quirkiness. A must in my decor. My little gold Santa made a comeback too. I just love him.

Modern Christmas Living Room Decorating Ideas

Apartment Living Room Christmas Decor IdeasModern Christmas Living Room Decorating Ideas

Near the TV I installed a much-needed shelf for book storage, knick-knacks, and apparently, wine.

Apartment Living Room Christmas Decor Ideas

Modern Christmas Living Room Decorating Ideas

Apartment Living Room Christmas Decor Ideas

As you may already know, these little deer are precious to me. They belonged to my grandmother. They are especially meaningful this year because this will be our first Christmas without her.

Apartment Living Room Christmas Decor Ideas

Over in the kitchen, I brought in a few holiday flourishes as well. I’m doing my best to embrace these builder-grade cabinets. Festive touches. such as this canvas from Lily & Val (located here in Pittsburgh), make all the difference. (For those of you who might be wondering how I hang art on tile: I used these hooks from 3M. They work great for lightweight items.)

Apartment Kitchen Christmas Decor Ideas

Apartment Kitchen Christmas Decor Ideas

Apartment Kitchen Christmas Decor Ideas

Apartment Kitchen Christmas Decor Ideas

Apartment Kitchen Christmas Decor Ideas

How cute are those vintage brass mice? Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.Though, it seems these two are after cake.

Modern Christmas Dining Table Decorations

Little paper houses and bottle brush trees corralled on a tray and covered by glass domes add a bit of Christmas cheer to my dining table.


Modern Christmas Dining Table Decorations

Modern Christmas Dining Table Decorations

And finally, here is my bar cabinet dressed up for the season. This just might be my favorite vignette in the entire apartment. When I’m fretting about all the decor details, I look at this and immediately feel less stressed.

Holiday Bar Car Decorating Ideas

To put it together, I decorated my mirror with greens, added a trio of glass trees from HomeGoods, tucked in my trusty nutcracker (also a HomeGoods find), and finished it off with peppermint sticks.

Holiday Bar Car Decorating Ideas

I was also super excited to find a new place for my DIY wood bead garland. It draped perfectly on the cabinet and coordinated beautifully with the colors. You can learn how to make the garland here.

Holiday Bar Car Decorating Ideas

I’m still working on my bedroom, but here’s a sneak peek. You might recall when I painted that black wall a month ago.

How to Style a Modern Bedroom for Christmas

And yes, there’s a tree in there. A small one. Thanks to gold sequin unicorn ornaments, it’s full of quirkiness, too.

Rustic Modern Christmas Tree

Speaking of ornaments, the other ornaments on that tree are from Tree Hopper Toys. (You may remember them from my Christmas Tree last year.) They are also offering special savings to Inspired by Charm readers. Use the code “INSPIRED” to get 25% off their ornaments now through the end of the year.

And that’s a wrap for my Holiday Home Tour 2017.

I know this tour is a bit “different” from past years’. I’m struggling somewhat with that. I hope I didn’t disappoint, BUT I am hoping that 2018 will have me back in a homier home. Thanks to all of you for following along and sticking with me through the ebb and flow of life. Your kindness and support are priceless gifts.

During December, I plan to share more details about each of these spaces, including a full tour of my bedroom decor. If you’re new here, be sure to subscribe to the IBC Mailing List or follow me on social media (I recommend Instagram.) so you don’t miss a thing.

Merry Christmas Inspired by Charm

In the meantime, please continue on the Holiday Housewalk and check out the homes of my blogger friends. Their homes are stunning and inspiring in their own unique way. Up next on the tour is Jeanne Oliver. I always love what she does for Christmas. I’m sure you will, too. You can continue onto her home here.

Thanks for taking time out of your day to be with me. I hope you enjoyed your peek around my apartment and picked up a few ideas to create your own happy place for the holidays.

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84 Comments

  1. Micheal, loved what you did to your home. Your Christmas tree is amazingly beautiful. Thanks for making us part of your home tour.
    I can see from your beautiful home decorating items that you are also fond of beautiful home decorations items like me. I have this salt lamp in my house which I could not see at your place, these lamps are incredibly beautiful and the orange yellow glow of these lamps make everything looks so gorgeous. I bought them from Saltean and I thought you would love them too.
    Anyways, wishing you a wonderful Christmas and holiday season! <3

  2. I am just now “touring” (does this tell you what a busy December I’m having?). Love it all and wonderful as always!!! EVERYTHING is my favorite!!! In your office there is a package on the nubby blue throw that features a buffalo checked snowflake ornament. I would like to incorporate those into a Tablescape I have in mind. Would you share your shopping source, please? Thank you, and have a blessed Christmas. So many of us are experiencing this year as a first Christmas without a loved one….lost my mother-in-law and an aunt in 2017. Precious memories help ease losses. Thanks for all the inspiration.

  3. Wow, Michael. I’ve been following you for several years, and I loved everything you did in your big house. But I have to say I’m AMAZED at all you’ve done in this apartment. It’s incredible that you’ve included so many beautiful Christmas pieces but nothing looks overdone (including that “maximalist” tree!) and not a single thing looks cluttered. Everything just looks as if it was designed with love, and I know that’s true. God bless you.

  4. Beautiful! No matter how I try, I can never get my tree to look anything like these. Hoping all is well with you and your family. Have a Very Merry Christmas and the New Year you are hoping for.

  5. your shares area always my favorite. you don’t skimp on cheer or quirk or warmth, and yet your spaces look clean and streamlined; that’s the best combination, and you’re amazing. and i really want to go shopping with you … you are a homegoods master. i just get overwhelmed by people and carts, and run away screaming.

  6. I’m a relatively new reader to your blog (found you through the one room makeover challenge). You seem a bit melancholy today and it seems as though it may be over the size of the space that you are decorating. What I love about your blog is how it is joyful and that you find pleasure in the smallest of things. Your site is different and more enjoyable because of your happy personality and the way that you make things accessible. I’d eagerly follow you if you were living in a shoe box because you would make even that beautiful and you would have fun in the process. You are awesome and I hope that whatever struggles you may be having pass quickly.

  7. I love your apartment because it is both practical and beautiful. So many of the home decorator sites look like museums. Your home is looks warm, comfy and gorgeous.

  8. Michael,

    Love how you turned the Harry Potter books backwards so the titles don’t distract from the rest of your decorations. And the Not Coco Tree works beautifully due to the minimal colors. Love all the neutrals with the touch of green.

    Maureen

  9. I love it all! I can’t decide if the dining table or the bar cart are my faves, but man! That tree in your living room does make my heart all fluttery! 🙂